Customer Reviews

No Lookin Back

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a must for any Doobie fan of the Mcdonald years. His mix of pop, jazz, and rock is very good. Joe Walsh on slide guitar on the second track is a good classic rock tune. His distinct vocals carry this cd to another level. A definite keeper.

I love this album. This is lite rock at its finest. There are great session players on this album like Jeff Porcaro,Joe Walsh,Robben Ford,and more. Every song is well done and smooth. Jeff Porcaro lays down a solid drum beat throughout the entire album.

I don't know why, but it took me awhile to get into this album. I used to play the great title track over and over again and then I'd just sort of sit the album aside. (By the way, I still can't figure out how No Lookin' Back wasn't a big hit song. It really rocks.)

After a few more listens, I realized just how great this whole album is. I'd say it's my 2nd favorite of Michael's (my favorite being If That's What It Takes.) There are some really great songs on here! My personal favorites are (I'll Be Your) Angel, Any Foolish Thing, and Our Love.

It's definitely worth owning if you're a Michael McDonald fan. And if you're not already a fan, then it just might turn you into one.

To me, this is one of Michael's most unappreciated cds. This is the cd that began his growth as a solo artist from his stint with the Doobie Brothers. There are a lot of great songs. My favorite is "Our Love." This also happens to be my favorite McDonald song of all-time and the song that made me a McDonald fan. The song showcases his voice and his writing. The whole cd is excellent with "Don't Let Me Down" being another favorite of mine. A great cd to own.

I've always looked at Michael McDonald as the artist that really catapulted The Doobie Brothers to artistic heights. The Doobies originally started out as a Southern Style Rock band. They then found ways to integrate other genres of music. Perhaps this was most prevalent with the addition of Michael McDonald. Michael McDonald was brought into the Doobie Brothers to fill in for lead vocalist Tom Johnston during a 1975 tour. McDonald soon would find himself as the co-lead vocalist of the Doobies for the next 7 years. During this time, the Doobies would reach the height of popularity. Much of this was due to the Rhythm and Blues/Jazz influence by McDonald. Following a farewell tour in 1982, Michael McDonald would begin a solo career that would now see him focus much on his R&B sound. Probably the most successful of McDonald's albums would be his sophomore solo effort - "No Lookin Back". It is on this album where we see McDonald utilize things such as integrating more Harder Rock and Synth Pop to create a very good sound.

I think a lot of the credit for the Harder Rock sound on "No Lookin Back" needs to go to producer Ted Templeman. Templeman is a producer most famous for producing Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, and Van Morrison. Templeman also was a producer for the Doobie Brothers and for McDonald's first album, "If That's What It Takes". From working with the Doobie Brothers, Templeman worked with blending McDonald's R&B sound with the Doobies Southern Style Rock. In addition Templeman had a wealth of experience of producing Rock albums, so it is natural for him to be able to get the best out of Michael McDonald. While Hard Rock doesn't dominate this album, it does influence it.

The nice thing about this album is that this collection doesn't completely abandon McDonald's R&B sound. In fact, there are several tracks that demonstrate this sound. One track - "Any Foolish Thing" demonstrates McDonald's R&B sound at his finest.

There are some top studio musicians that work with McDonald on this effort. Jeff Porcaro provided Drums on each of the original 9 original tracks. Porcaro (who passed away in 1992) was a founding member of Toto and one of the most sought after studio drummers in the business. Steve Lukather - also from Toto plays guitar on "Our Love" while Joe Walsh (from the Eagles) contributes Slide Guitar on "Bad Times".

Here is a track by track review of this album:

"No Lookin Back": This is the title track. It probably demonstrates McDonald's Harder Rock edge better than any of the other tracks - even though it as a Synth Pop feel to it.. It was co-written with Kenny Loggins who worked with McDonald on "If That's What It Takes". The nature of the song is almost autobiographical as it seems as though McDonald is reflecting on leaving the Doobie Brothers. Perhaps McDonald questions his own solo career when he asks "Why Don't I Understand What's Trippin Me Up?" (even though I think there is nothing to question).

"Bad Times": This song continues the Harder Rock edge, but has much less of a Synth Pop feel than "No Lookin Back". While McDonald's vocals are good here, it really is the guitar work (led by Joe Walsh's slide guitar) that shines here.

"(I'll Be Your) Angel": This song highlights McDonald's soulful voice. This song has its moments where it does have a Rock sound, but I still would put this in a Synth Pop category.

"By Heart": This song we hear a good combination of R&B with Synth Pop. This is a catchy song and like the previous song highlights McDonald's soulful voice.

"Don't Let Me Down": I think this song integrates all of the elements of this album on one song. You hear the Harder Rock edge on co-writer David Pack's guitar solo (which is as good a guitar solo as anywhere) You will hear a Synth Pop melody with some terrific R&B style harmonies (especially on the background vocals).

"Our Love (Theme From No Mercy)": Terrific song from the film starring Richard Gere and Kim Basinger. We once again hear a Synth Pop sound as the Synthesizers are going to dominate this melody. This song almost has a David Foster-like quality to it. It's also a great love song and McDonald delivers perfectly.

"( I Hang) On Every Word": This is probably the weakest song on the album, but its still not bad. This song again falls into the mold of Synth Pop melody with soulful vocals. McDonald co-wrote this song with his wife - Amy Holland.

"Any Foolish Thing": As mentioned above, this is a R&B song. This is a very underrated track and is as good as any track McDonald has done. I love the "bridge" in the middle of the song when it slows down. There is some nice saxophone work in this song as well.

"Lost in the Parade": This song is dominated by McDonald's deep vocals - this is going to be the real charm of the song. Again, the theme of Synth Pop with soulful vocals is prevalent here.

This album was actually re-released in 1986 after the enormous success of Michael McDonald's "Sweet Freedom" - the theme song from the movie "Running Scared". This was a Synth Pop song that was written by Rod Temperton. While not the classic McDonald R&B song, McDonald delivers a very catchy and uplifting performance on this song. It is McDonald's unique vocals that give this song the charm. The reissue of "No Lookin Back" includes the "Sweet Freedom" track.

Overall this is a very good album and probably was the best solo album of McDonald's original material. This was an album that got buried during the period of 1985 - 1986 which was a big year for many artists in the music industry. There really aren't any bad tracks on this collection. This is one definitely worth checking out.

After the release of his first solo album If Thats What It Takes it would have seemed that Michael McDonald was looking to follow the same basic musical pattern he'd developed with the Doobie Brothers in his solo career,especially considering how many people consider the late 70's Doobie Brothers albums little more than Michael McDonald solo projects with the Doobie's as backup. In this case of this album there is no question whatever that McDonald is firmly in command here and has found a sound that's fully his. The big change here is the musical direction. His trademark use of the fender rhodes and clavinets have been replaced by a more puncuated emphasizing digital synthesizers and less reliance on rhythm and more on stilted beats. Also this functions as more of an AOR project as there are no obvious stand out singles on this album-they all flow more as one long statement with variations. There is one song that does stick out some at least to me anyway. That would be "Bad Times". It's best described as a bluesy jazz-fusion styled tune with very concious lyrics. The majority of this album however presents a lot of songs such as the title song,"(I'll Be Your) Angel","Lost In The Parade","By Heart","(I Hang) On Your Every Word" and "Don't Let Me Down" and they all have a sound that's uniquely both appropriate and counter to the music of the mid 80's:the music is very slick and electronic but also not too flashy and crowded with all kinds of effects. His soundtrack hit of the same era Sweet freedom] isn't present on this album and that's a pretty good yardstick because this albums breezy rock/soul has as much to do with that song as a human being would be to a field of white mice. This is a different kind of album from a different Michael McDonald who,with the Doobie Brothers put temporarily on pause was now taking the opportunity to excersise a new direction in his music.

Ex Doobie Brother McDonald goes solo, and certainly he has the craftmansship to do this. And he also get "help" from musicans as Joe Walsh(Eagles) and Jeff Pocaro(Toto) to make this cd a joyfull trip altrough. Track 1 No lookin back is the title track which has an uptempo beat with some sparkling keyboard play from Mcdonald him self. A quick musical mind and heart starter this one. Track 2 Bad Times, is more in "jazzy/fusion land" and has a certain "studio soundpicture" all over. It`s bigtown "urban" music, with the quality starsparklin` touch marked right on target. Track 3 (I`ll be your)angel is a funky up beat disco hybrid, which should have be a winner back in the 80 th`s and certainly is it in our`e days`. Track 4 By heart. Well, this is a minor let down, with too little variations. It goes on and on, but after one minute it changes gear into a more interestin` sound picture. Track 5 Any foolish thing begins with great saxophone playing along, but there are two many up`s and downs between before it ends. Track 6 Our love, is a ballad which tries to get you into a moody feel. It`s certainly cool and laidback in it form. It has a certain carribean feel over it with the percussion and the drums in the background.

Track 7(I hang) on your every word, is anyway a winner. It`s the most uptempo upbeat song, and it realy gives you a kick off. Here all the different synthesizers, sequenced synth and the emulator programs are well used to make this a winner Track 8 Lost in the parade is a minor let down, which has lost much of it`s sparklin`here and there. Track 9 Lost in the Parade is anyway an uptempo ok song, but nothing very special. Anyway this is intellectual "doobie doo" musical quality craftmasnship. Michael McDonald certainly has "it".

Is it my imagination or do the opening and closing tracks NO LOOKING BACK and DON'T LET ME DOWN sound eerily similar? Don't get me wrong--I really like Michael McDonald--I have all his CDs. I mention this because for me the similarity of songs on this 9-track collection don't allow Mike to take any risks or broaden his estimable horizons. But NO LOOKING BACK gives us those smoky, evocative vocals of one of pop's most recognizable voices. Backed by the best studio musicians, McDonald and co-producer Ted Templeman have fashioned a palatable addition to McDonald's discography.
While not my personal MM offering, there are some shining moments: the jazz-flavored OUR LOVE is one of Michael's finest recordings; BAD TIMES is a great slow burner; I like the structure and feel of ANY FOOLISH THING; and NO LOOKING BACK and/or DON'T LET ME DOWN are vintage McDonald.
McDonald has had a great influence on jazz/rock fusion and I feel fortunate to have his collection. NO LOOKING BACK isn't perfect but it's still worth listening to.

After a three year hiatus Michael McDonald released thi second album. From the first track the title song "No Lookin' Back" wich have an updated 80's sound with great instruments again played by members of the band Toto who were well past their prime as a recording act, but still highly regarded session men. The only other track that could have been a single was "By Heart" with it's uptempo and great guitar playing by former James Gang and Eagles, Joe Walsh who also played guitar throughout the album. You would think after three years Mike would have had better material. The voice of McDonald is still here but the lackluster songwriting really brings this down to three stars which I really hated to do. Although the musicianship is great it is sometime overshadowed by the heavy synthensizers that was very popular at the time. Not nearly as good as his debut If That's What It Takes,but is still a solid listen and worth having for the die-hard McDonald fan.

I really liked this cd,did you know that Michael was one of the co writer"s for No Lookin"Back,Bad Times was his own in fact every song he on this cd he was a co writer.No wonder this artist sang them all with such feeling!!! I have every cd by Michael his is the only music I listen to.Such a voice truly is a gift from Our Dear Lord,thank you Michael for sharing it with the world!!!